Hot Weld led in by rider Richard Harding.

Hot Weld gave Ferdy Murphy and Richard Harding their second 33-1 winner of the week in the Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup for amateur riders.

The seven-year-old was in the front rank for most of the marathon four mile and one furlong trip and was given a cracking ride by the promising amateur, whose brother Brian is famed for riding One Man to victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Not many horses made up ground from off the pace but Beantown was a fast-finishing second at 40-1, going down by a neck, with 7-2 favourite Far From Trouble a further length back in third.

The Middleham partnership had struck in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on Wednesday with You're Special.

"It's great to have any winner at the Festival," said Murphy.

"The lad can ride can't he? I've a feeling he'll be getting quite a few offers after this week.

"He gave him a similar ride to what he gave You're Special yesterday and he just kept a little bit back coming down the hill."

Harding was full of praise for the horse.

"We didn't go that quick on the first circuit so I knew I'd have a bit left for the hill and I needed it the way they were coming at me.

"He's a grand jumper and very easy to ride."